South County contractor sentenced

Henry Amigable listens while his attorney Dan Greene addresses the media after Amigable changed his plea in March 2012. Amigable pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor violation of the state Education Code involving offering something of value to a school board member.
— John R. McCutchen

Henry Amigable listens while his attorney Dan Greene addresses the media after Amigable changed his plea in March 2012. Amigable pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor violation of the state Education Code involving offering something of value to a school board member.
— John R. McCutchen

San Diego  A key witness for the prosecution in a corruption case involving several current and former South County school officials was placed on probation Friday for a term of three years.

Henry Amigable, 48, pleaded guilty nearly a year ago to a misdemeanor charge of offering something of value to a member of the governing board of a school district. He had faced a possible jail term of up to six months.

In addition to the misdemeanor, he originally faced felony charges, including offering a bribe, that could have sent him to prison for more than four years if he had been convicted.

San Diego Superior Court Judge Michael Smyth ordered the sentence Friday morning, noting that even though Amigable’s actions were considered serious, his role as an employee rather than an owner of a construction company somewhat reduced his responsibility.

Smyth said the defendant conducted himself, unfortunately, “in a way that he was trained.”

Amigable was among several defendants charged early last year in the public corruption case and accused of offering or accepting bribes in exchange for lucrative school bond construction contracts.

In December, the District Attorney’s Office indicted 15 school officials and contractors on charges including bribery and perjury. The officials are from three school districts — Sweetwater Union, San Ysidro and Southwestern Community College.

The case involving those defendants is pending in Chula Vista Superior Court.

Amigable was accused of picking up the tab for golf trips, dinners, sport tickets, hotel stays and other gifts.

His lawyer, Dan Greene, said in court Friday that Amigable had accepted responsibility for his conduct early in the proceedings and agreed to cooperate with the District Attorney’s Office in the prosecution of other defendants.

He said his client was a hard worker who had tried to make his community a better place.

Deputy District Attorney Leon Schorr agreed that Amigable had cooperated with prosecutors. Schorr answered, “Yes,” when the judge asked whether the defendant had testified in front of a grand jury.

Transcripts of that hearing have been sealed, pending a hearing scheduled for April 12 in Chula Vista.

In light of the pending case, Judge Smyth also sealed a sentencing memorandum included in Amigable’s court file.